Note: I do not own Blizzard nor do I make any profit from this story.

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The magister smiled warmly at Jin'ala as she knelt before him, showing her respect for him. "Ahh, Jin'ala. It is good to see you again. You've been excelling at your studies, I hear," he said, extending an arm to help her up.

She smiled and blushed at the compliment. "Thank you, sir," she replied quietly. "I was told there was a task for me?"

He nodded and his body language changed to a business-like manner. "Yes, there are important matters to attend to. This," he said, handing her an envelope, "will explain everything."

Nodding, Jin'ala accepted the envelope and dipped her head. "Thank you, magister."

"There is another matter to discuss, Jin'ala," he said.

She nodded her head. "Yes, magister?"

"There is the matter of your safety," he said, softening. "This is a dangerous trek, Jinny. Your safety is of utmost importance to us. We have arranged an escort for you. He has come highly recommended as one of the most trusted and valued warriors. A true hero in his own right."

She couldn't stop the disappointed sigh that escaped her lips.

"Is something wrong, Jinny?" the magister asked.

She quickly answered, "No, sir. I . . . I was just . . . ." she sighed again in submission. "No, sir. Nothing's wrong."

The magister looked at her kindly. "Jin'ala," he smiled warmly. "You are a very strong and accomplished mage. However, you will be traveling through very dangerous country. I cannot put one of my most promising mages to this kind of task without ensuring her protection." He stood next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders, escorting her to the door. "You must trust our judgment, Jinny. Many have performed this task before, and many will in the future. It is a 'right of passage', if you will, of every mage. Every mage before you and every mage after you will have an escort. That is the way things are. That is the way they will stay."

She nodded acceptance. "Yes, magister. As you wish."

He stopped at the door. "Jin'ala," he said, cupping her shoulders in his hands. "It is my wish for you to remain alive."

She closed her eyes and smiled as he gently kissed her forehead. "Yes, magister. Thank you," she said as he released her.

He smiled warmly at her. "You shall meet the warrior on the morrow, at the gates to the city. There, you will begin your journey. Pack light, and make sure your mount is ready for the long trek."

"Yes, magister."

"Shorel'aran, Jin'ala."

"Selama ashal'anore."

"Indeed," he said, watching her walk away.

She brooded the entire way back to the inn at the entrance of the city. She didn't need an escort. She was perfectly capable of her own protection. She sighed. But the magisters had ordered it. Jin'ala decided to forget about it until the morning. Until then, she needed to prepare. She decided to walk to the stable to check on her hawkstrider.

The strong, musty odor of fodder and animals assaulted her nose as she entered the stable. She walked down the center aisle, and the low rumble of a kodo caught her attention, but only for a moment. Other animals joined the strong kodo in a chorus of sounds. She followed the aisle to the stall where Myndee stood.

The hawkstrider squawked a greeting when she saw Jin'ala. The girl smiled at the flightless bird. She stood almost eight feet tall on her two strong legs, her light purple and red plumage ruffling out as she used her large beak to preen between each feather. Her wings, though relatively small for her size of a bird, stretched almost six feet across. She squawked again as Jin'ala approached her and extended a hand to the bird's beak.

"Sinu a'manore, friend," Jinny smiled, stroking the hawkstrider. She ran her hands the full length of the bird, feel the warmth of her through the feathers. Myndee nuzzled her head against Jinny's chest as the girl stroked the bird's long neck. "We've a long journey ahead of us, friend. Dangerous country," she said in Thalassian. The bird cocked her head to the side and looked at Jinny with her big eyes. "Don't worry. We'll be fine." She fed Myndee a treat which the bird hungrily snatched out of her hand.

"Well, she looks hungry," came a deep gritty voice from behind her.

Jin'ala spun on her heels, startling Myndee in the process. "Anar'alah!" she exclaimed.

He laughed at her and she blushed. "Well, hell, you are a jumpy one! Jinny, isn't it?" he asked, his fel-green eyes sparkling.

She realized she was blushing again and that made her blush even more. She turned away and resumed her attentions to Myndee. Away from that frustrating man from the fountain. Keeping her attention on her hawkstrider, she nodded. "Yes, Jinny. And I only jump when someone sneaks up on me," she qualified her actions.

He laughed at her. The sound was musical. It started as a low rumble inside his broad chest and gradually tumbled through his thin lips as the fel in his eyes swirled playfully. He shifted positions and Jinny realized how close he was to her, she could feel his breath on her neck.

"So, what brings you out to the stables?" He paused. Then the smile broadened on his face. "Are you following me?" he asked, reaching out a hand to gently stoke her arm with his knuckle.

She took in a sharp breath at the contact and instantly, she had goose pimples. Jinny was glad that she was still facing away from him. She blushed and laughed uncomfortably. "Please," she said rolling her eyes, "don't think so highly of yourself." She slid around her bird to the other side. "I came to check on Myndee," she smiled politely. "She doesn't really like the stable. It makes her uneasy."

"Oh, really?" he asked, running his hand over the bird as he walked around and stood close to her again. He smiled slyly at her and shrugged. "She doesn't look all that uneasy." He looked directly into her eyes and leaned towards her, placing a hand behind her on the stable wall, chuckling as he saw her blush. He was really making her uneasy, but she wasn't going to let him know that. She straightened her back and stood tall, looking back into his eyes, trying to seem brave. His gaze traveled down her face and lingered on her lips. He lowered his voice. "You sure do blush quite a bit," he said, using a hand to softly touch her cheek with his knuckle, a half smile on his face. She turned an even darker crimson and his half smile broadened to his entire face.

She turned her head to look away, annoyed that she couldn't control her body's responses. "It's a curse," she said, almost disgusted.

"Really?" he said, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. She trembled slightly at his touch but didn't move. He chuckled, the sound low and soft. "I find it quite becoming of you, Miss Jinny." He reached out a hand and caught her chin with a finger, lifting her face level to his. "Quite beautiful," he said quietly, leaning in so close that their noses were almost touching. She could feel his breath on her cheeks, splashing across her chin.

Jin'ala could feel the warmth coming from her cheeks. She searched her brain. How in the name of the sun would she get this man away from her? Then the thought struck her. "Miand." She spoke just loud enough for the hawkstrider to hear.

Instantly, the bird had turned to face her and was pushing her way between Jinny and her bothersome pest. "What? What on . . . ?" he exclaimed, jumping back.

This time, it was her turn to laugh, and laugh she did. A full bodied, throw your head back and let it tickle your insides kind of laugh.

"What did you say?" he shot a suspicious look at her.

She smiled smugly. "I merely started saying that I needed to get her supper." She paused and shook her head. "I've no idea what got into her," she said, hoping she looked as innocent as she sounded. "I'm really, very sorry. But I do need to get her fed. Please excuse me." She walked over to the feed box, portioned some out and gave it to her hawkstrider. She gently patted the hawkstrider as she ate. Finally, she looked back to the man. "Darreek, isn't it?" she asked and waited for his affirming nod. She nodded in response and continued, "It was . . . uh . . . nice to see you again, Mister Darreek, but I really must be off. I'm in need of some rest, as I've had a rather long and eventful day."

"Well, then," he said, moving in front of her and bowing low. "Miss Jinny," he took her hand, "Once again, it has been my pleasure," he smiled and touched the back of her knuckles to his lips. She blushed. "And, sadly, I, too, have my own matters to attend to. So, I shall take my leave." He bowed low again. "Until the morrow," he smiled slyly at her.

She nodded at him and watched him walk away. She wasn't going to burst his egotistical bubble by telling him she was leaving at dawn.

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Note: "Miand" means Supper